By WAYNE THOMPSON
The West Auckland Pacific Islands community was last night grieving the loss of more than 200 art works - mainly traditionally woven pieces - after yesterday's fire in a warehouse at the historic Corban Estate in Henderson.
The former winery building housed the Pacific Arts Centre where up to
15 women known affectionately as "the Mamas" regularly met to chat while they produced items such as tapa and tivaevae cloth.
"We had huge tapa hanging down the walls - our pride and joy and now they are all gone," said artist Mary Ama, who is the Pacific art co-ordinator for the Waitakere City Council.
"They have been there for so long and it's going to be hard to replace them," she said.
One of the works - a 52m long tapa cloth from Tonga - was the work of 20 women.
Mary Ama said the centre's traditional trappings were loved by visiting schoolchildren and a monthly Pacific Islands market was held there.
More than 60 firefighters attended the early morning blaze which was caused by an electrical fault and was mainly confined to the roof and contents of the 50-year-old building.
The Corban Estate Arts Centre is looking for alternative space for the Pacific artists.
Also yesterday, about 40 Rodney and Auckland firefighters fought a scrub fire about 15km north of Shelly Beach, on the south head of Kaipara Harbour.
Rodney principal fire officer Phil Nesbit last night said about 4ha of scrub and trees burned on a farm hillside. High winds caused flare ups during the afternoon blaze and a helicopter with a monsoon bucket was called in to help.
One fire crew remained overnight at the scene to dampen hot spots.
